Washing and cleaning apparatus



July 10, 1928. 1,676,842

' .A. A. SMALLHOUSE WASHING AND CLEANING APrARATUS l neal-"9M2, 192a; 3.Sheets-Sh eet 1 INVENT R.- (M I v ATTORNEY)! Jill? '10, 19287 1.676342 A. A. SMALL-HOUSE WASHING AND CLEANING APPARATUS a Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb; 2, 192

1 J ?/4/////lfllllffrll w ltl A TTORNEXX July 10, 192i. 1.676.842

. A. A. SMALLHOUSE WASHING AND CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 192.6 s Sheets-Sheet 3 F 7 f F a ATTORNEIXK Iii) Patented July 10, 1928.

$75,842 earner lorr es A'L'nnn'r n. sivinpniiousn, or ee. Antennas, 'eariinon nin, A s mese Tsimshi ONE-HUNDREDTHS To JOSEPH nnsrsonnn, on PAL-'MDALE, enL'IFoRiifia WASHING Ann CLEANING APrARATu'sJ Application filed February 2, 1926. Serial No. 85,514. i i

My invention relates to a washing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for the production and application of a forced hot-air mist for washing and cleaning automobiles or for other washing and cleaning purposes. V

The object in general of my invention is to provide a simple, efiicient and economical washing apparatus of the character stated,

by means of which compressed air may he reheated, tothe desired temperature, mixed in the proper proportions with liquid, and the air and liquid atomized and applied to, the surfaces of automobiles or to other surfaces for washing the same and removing grease, paint. or dirt. therefrom. V

A more particular object is to provide a forced hot-air mist washing apparatus in which the liquid may be shut off when a surface is washed by the mist and only the hot air turned on and applied to said surface to dry the same.

Other objects and advantages will appear a; the description progresses.

The use of steam in washing and cleaning automobiles scalds the paint or enamel and".

destroys the finish thereof, but this objec tionable feature is eliminated in the use of my forced hot-air mist, which elle'ctive is washes and cleans the surfaces ofthe auto? mobile; without in any way in'ipairing the paint or enamel thereof.

My invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings which form a part of this specili 1 cation, and in which:

llig. 1 is an elevation o-f'an apparatus for practicing my washing and cleaning method. Fig; 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the water heater and air reheater forming part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1-, showing the water and air union and the pole on which the collector ismounted. r

I Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 41- of Fig. 3, showing we. and air union, the pole on which the col lector is mounted and the delivery conduit tional view of the handle and connecting portions of the water and air conduit.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the water and air conduit taken on line (36 of g duit 7, and a nozzle tcr.

form of nozzle employed ininy invention.

lO'is a plan view of the valve employed in the nozzle shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a: view of the cap of thewater t-ube in the nozzle shown inv F ig; 9.

Cor-responding reference numerals designate the same parts in all the views.

My invention,includes generally an air compressor 1, a heater 2 for heatingwater and reheating the air col'i'ipressed by said compressor, a water pipe-'3 leading from said heater, an air pipe at leading from said heater, a chemical conta 191'5 connected by a' pipe 6 to the water pipe 3, a 'wat'erand air tube 7, a water and air union 8 connecting the water pipe 3 and air pipe 4. and fai'dcon '9 onthe outer end "of said conduit. l ii I The heaterQ includes an outer casing 10, an inner casing 11, a burner 12 in the lower end of said inner, casing, a pilot burner 13 associated with said burner, a water heating coil 14: in said inner casing immediately above said burner, anautomatio waterand gas control valve 15 to which said water heating coil, burner and pilot biilrner are connected, an air reheating coil 16 in the upper part ofthe inner casing 2 above said *ater heating coil, a bw le plate 17 between said water heating coil and said air'heating coil, and areheated air reservoir 18 on top casin 10.

The outer ca ing 1-0 is'clos'edat the botf tom bya wall 19 and at the top by a head Through the center of the. air reser-' voir 8. extends a. vertical tube 21 and a rod 22 extends through the bottom wall 19,

burner 12, water coil 14, battle plate 17, air coil 16, tube :21 and head 20,; and said rod is secured by nuts 23 to said bottom wall and by a nut 24: to said head, whereby said lo'o'ttom wall and head are held on the lowerand upper ends of the outer .casinglO; The baflle, plate 17 is'held on the rod 22 by nuts 25. T'he inner casing 11 converges. sli upwardly and is formed with an external ans ght-ly I nular head 26 near its upper'en'd to prevent;

ny heat frompassing below the same this V the annularspace .27 between the inner and outer casings. V

The inner casing is provided with heat outlets 28 above the head 26 through which heat passes vfrom the inner casing into the outer casing and upwardly through the annular space 29 between the outer casing and the reheated reservoir 18. The head is formed with a depending annular flange 30 which extends close to the top of the re-.

heated air reservoir and is provided with ports 81 through whichheat passes from the space 29 into the heat chamber 32 within said flange at the top of the reheated air reservoir.

It will thus be-seen that the air in the reservoir 18 is reheated at the bottom of the reservoir by the heat in the top of the inner casing, at the sides of the reservoir by the heat the space 29, and at the top by" the heat in the chamber 32. The head 20 is" provided with-outlets leading from. the heating chamber 32 into a stack 34 through V which the products of combustion pass from i a water duct 40, an air duct 41" and a de pending elbow 42 into which said ducts converge and through which they extend, the water duct 40 extending through the air duct in said'elbow. In the top of the elbow 42 in the water duct 40 is located a check valve 43 which consists of an aper- M tured disk 44, a spring45 and a screw plug 46 seated in the 'topwall of the elbow and bearing against the spring 45 whichnormal-c 'lyholds said disk on 1ts seat 47.

The water duct 4O extends below the air duct 41 in the elbow 42 and is formed with a hose nipple 48 on its lower end. A hose nipple 49 is coupled, by' a screw coupling 50, to the lower end of theair duct 41 in the elbow 42 into which nipple extends the water duct nipple 49.. The union 8 is formed with a vertically extending saddle 51 which isdetachably secured on a standard 52 by clamp 53, each of which clamps comprises a U-bolt 54 extending around the saddle a'nd'standard. a bar 55 extending across the side of the standard opposite said saddle, and nuts 56 screwed on the ends of'the bolt against said bar. The clamps 53 and saddle 51' hold the water and air union 8 on the standard 52 at the desired elevation.

. A cold water by-pass 58 connects the watersupply pipe 59 leading into the automatic water and gas control valve 15 and the hot water pipe 3 leading: fronr the heater, there being a valve 60 for controlling said by-pass. A control valve 61 and a check valve 62 are provided in the water pipe 3, the check valve being located forwardly of the control valve and at the union 8. The pipe 6 leading from the chemical container 5 connects to the Water pipe 3 at a point betweenthe control valve 61 and the check valve 62. A control valve 63 and a check valve 64 are provided in the chemical pipe 6,- the check valve being located between the water pipe 3 and the control valve. In the air pipe 4 are-provided a control valve 65, and a safety valve 66, the safety valve being located between the control valve and the air reservoir 18. The

pipe section 73 and an inner metal pipe 74 of'smaller diameter than the handle section.

and pipe section, the pipe section 74 extending through said handle section and pipe section. The inner pipe 74 is formed'with a nipple 7 5 on its inner end while the handle section 72 is formed with a nipple 76 on its corresponding end. The water hose '70 is fitted at one end on the nipple 48 and at its other end on the nipple 75, while the air hose 71 is fitted at one end on the nipple 49 and at its other end on the nipple 76. The handle section 72 is connected at its outer end to the inner end of the pipe section 78 by means of a screw joint 77. Said joint is'formed with a seat 78 therein upon which rests a spider 79 which is engaged by the adjacent end of the pipe section 73 and held firmly upon said seat. Y 79 is provided with a central opening 80 through which extends the water pipe 74 whereby said pipe is held centralized with The handle relation to the pipe section 73. I section 72 is formed with a handle 81 to outwardly at an obtuse angle to said shank.

member. The shank member and discharge member are formed with an inner water duct 87 and an outer air duct 88fsurrounding said water duct. The duct 88, at the inner end of the shank member is screw con-. nected at 89 to the outer end of the-pipe section 73, while the ductv 87 at the inner end of the shank member 85, is screw connected-at 90 to the outer end of the Water The spider loo be gripped by the hand of the operator'for war s-4a pipe 74. Theinner water duct 87 is cone nected and spaced within the outer air duct 88 by segin'ental webs 91 formed integral with said ducts. A water" cap 93 is screw connected at 94 on the discharge end of the water duct 87; The cap 93 is formed with an external flange 95 wl1ich engages the discharge end of the air duct 88 and-is provided with outlets 96 through which air discharges from said duct. The cap 93 is formed with a head 97 on its outer side; which head is provided with an outletport 98 and is formed with a conical outer surface 99; a An aircap 100 fits over the end of the discharge member 86 of the nozzle 8, said cap having an internal thread 101 which engages an external thread 102 on the duct 88 of said member, there being a lock nut 103 seated on said external thread for engaging the inner end of the cap 100 for locking the cap adjusted to different positions on said discharge member.

The head of the cap 100 is provided with a central outlet 104 which-registers with the water cap outlet 98, and said cap head is formed with an internal conical surface 105, which surface upon turning the cap may be brought into engagement with the conical surface .99 of the'water cap 97 to shut oh the discharge of air, from the nozzle through outlet 10 1, or moved away from the surface 99 tovarying degrees to regulate the discharge of air from the nozzle.

The air cap isprovided with an annular external groove 106 in its outer end in which is fitted the inner end of an outwardly diverging conical brush 107, the bristles of the brush at its said inner end being wrapped around a wire ring 108. A conical clamp ring 109 fits over the'outer end of the cap 100 against the 'in'side of the inner end of the brush 107, and a nut 110 is screw seated at 111 on the outer end of the cap and engages the clamp ring 109 which in turn engages the inside of the brush and clamps the brush against the outer side of the groove 106, thereby the brush is securely clamped in the head 100.

r In the form of nozzle shown in Figs. 9,

10fand 11 the delivery member 86 is provided with an external thread 115 on its outer air duct 88 and a cap 116 fits over the end of said member and has an internal thread 117 which engages the thread 115. The end of the inner waterfduct 87 and the -,cap 118 thereon lie a short distancewithin theend of the outer air duct 88. The' cap 118 is screw connected on the end of the wa-' ter duct 87 as at 119 and is provided with an outlet 120 and a pluralityof radial legs 121 which engage the interior of the air duct 88 and center the water duct 87 in said air duct, the spaces 122 between the lugs 121 permitting the air in theair duct to pass the cap 118. The outer end portion 123 of the cap 116 reduced slightly in diameter and a transverse wall 124 divides said reduced portion from the body of'the cap, "said re, 1

duced'p'o'rtion being open ait its outer end. i

The transverse wall 1 24 is provided with an outlet 125 which is controlled by a conical valve 126 on the end oit'a stem 127 which is formed with a circular base 128 on its inner end, which base is provided with 'outlets 129 through which air and water pass from the end of the discharge member 86. A coil spring 130 surrounds the valve stem 127, hearing at one end against the wall12 1 and at its other end against the valve base 128 for holding said base against the end of the discharge member 86. The outer end of the cap 116 is provided with an annular groove 131-111 which is clamped anoutwardly diverging conical brush 132 by means of a clamp ring and a nut screw seated 'at13-50 n theouter end otthe reduced end123 ot the cap. t'ui'g'nin'g'the cap 116 the valve 126' may be adjusted in and out oi the outlet 1:2 5 vtor regulating the atomization and flow of the air inist'out of the outlet. A look nut 136 is seatedbn the thread 115, for engaging the inner end of the cap 116; a

It will be noted that rected from all directions'toward's the -center of the nozzle wh ch breaks up andffinely atomizes the air and water into an air mist,

thus preventing water bullets from forming 7 against which they which scratch a surface may be directed.

. In the form of nozzle shown in ig. 7 the discharged air is directed by the conical surfaces 99 and 105 from all directions to the center of the outlet 104 which thorough-' ly atomizes, the water which passes out straightt'rom the outlet 98, into a line air mist/f .7

In the nozzle shown in Fig. 9 the conical surface of the valve 126 directs the water and a1r.:t'ro1n all directions tothe center 7 I iii-both forms ofmy nozzle the air discharged therefrom is dithrough the outlet 125, which thoroughly atomizes the waterinto a fine airmist.

The air mist passing from the-nozzle is directed against the surface to be washed and the paint, grease, or dirt loosened by the.

mist is rubbed offthe surface by the brush Chemicals instead of water may be used When a surface hasten washed valve having acoil supported in said chamber, a heating drum in the combustion zone con nected with said air coil, means for separately introducing the heated compressed air from said drum, and water fromsaid water vheating coil to a point of discharge, and

means for supporting .a cleaning element under pressure in communication with the point of discharge for admixture with the heated air and water, for the purpose described. o

2. A cleaning system comprising a heater provided with a combustion chamber, a water heating coil supported in said chamber, a

compressed air heating coil also supported in said chamber, an air reheating drum in said chamber connected with said airheating coil, means for separately conducting the heated compressed air and water from said drum and from said water heating coil, respectively, to a point of discharge, means for supporting a cleaning element under pressure in communication with the point or water and air coils mounted within the inher drum and having separateinlets and outlets, means connected with saidwater coil for circulating water therethrough, means connected with said air coil for forcing air under pressure therethrough, a' compressed air storage receptacle abovesaid inner drum and in said outer drum and spaced therefrom a independent to provide a heat zone therebetween, said receptacle being in communication with said airicoil, a burner in' said heater arranged for supplying heat to said water and air coils and said receptacle, a discharge nozzle, and meam for conducting the heated compressed air and the heated water to said nozzle for mixture'in'a cleaning operation, for the purpose described.

v l. A cleaning apparatus comprising a heater having an outer casing, an inner drum of smaller diameter than said casing and 'concentrically positioned thereon, providing a combustion chamber, a burner in the lower portion of said drum, an air reservoir mounted in said casing above said drum and providing an annularheat zone in the upper portion of the casing, said combustion zone and said heat zone being in communication, separate water and air heating coils in said combustion zone, a connection between said air coil and said reservoir, means for connect'ing said air and water coils with air and water pressure systems respectively, and

separate means for conducting the heated air viding an" annular heat zone in the upper portion of the casing, said combustionzone and said heat zone being in communication, separate waterand air heating coils in'said combustion zone, a connection between said air coil and said air reservoir, meanstorconnecting said air and water coils with air and I water pressure systems respectively, means apart from said heater for supporting a' cleaning solution, and separate means for conducting the heated air and water from said air. reservoir and said water coil, respectively, and said cleaning solution to a common point of discharge for use in'a cleaning operation.

6. A cleaning heater having an outer casing, an inner drum of smaller diameter than said casing concene trically positioned thereinproviding a combustion chamber, a burnerin the lower por tion of said drum, a narrow reservoir mounted in said casing above said drum and providing an annular heat zone'in the upper portion of the casing, said combustion zone and said heat zone beingin communication, separate water and air heating coils in said combustion zone, a connection between, said air coil and said air reservoir, means for connecting said air and'water coils with air and water pressure systems respectively, means a iart from said heater for supporting "a cleaningsolution, separate means tor conductingthe heated air and water from said air reservoir and said water coil, respectively, andsaidcleaning solution to a com-t mon point of discharge for usein a cleaning operation, and means for independently controlling the volume of said heated air and water and said cleaning solution.

ALBERT A. SMALLHOUSE.

apparatus comprising a 

